Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-02-09

You mount the toboggan for your
first slide, behind you is another trav'
eler, and at the rear is the steersman
You shrink into as small a space as
possible, because there is not much
room, then carefully tuck the tails OF
your overcoat under you so they will
not catch hold Of any obstruction.
The stccrsman has his right leg stick
ing out astern and uses it as rudder.
You are now already for your first
slide. How steep it looks. You feel
like backing out, but you dare not.
Visions of broken legs, mangled bod
les and frightful disasters torment
you. ::All right" asks the starter.
EYES," says the steersman, "let her
CO." You feel the rear end of the
toboggan lift up and then-well you
feel as if the bottom of the slide had
dropped out, and you were going
down with frightful velocity. There
is rush of air past you and into your
mouth. You realize you are shooting
down with terrible speed, hut, while
going down the steepest part, you don't
think much, you haven't time TO think,
unless it is prayer. Then you begin
to realize that you are going some
where, and going in hurry too, and
have not time to stop for refreshments.
If Vanderbilt was holding out check
for million dollars. you would have
to decline. Before you reach the bot
tom of the slide. your senses, left be-
hind, catch up. the danger thoughts
glide away, feeling of exhileration
flows through you, and joyous feelings
of exultation race through your mind.
Come on with your 2:10 trotters, ex-
press trains, electricity, fast steamers,
and get left. A second or
two and the slide is behind you, vet
with railroad speed you glide over
the long course on the ice, and soon
200 feet have been traversed. Feel
good? You bet! "Oh, it's just too
lovely" the ladies say, and away you
walk back to take another dart
through the air. Your first expert
ence will never be repeated. You
have lost the feeling of danger, and
you don't seem to travel as fast. I'll
Vanderbilt was there offering a mil
lion dollar check, you would find time
to try and grab it.
The walk back is also pleasant.
You have plenty of company and there
are many sights. Before you is the
ice course, ending with the slide, and
the electric light on top Eliminates
the scene. Some toboggans are just |
starting, some have just left the slide. |
others are rushing over the bay ice,
Look at this one. 1t has got broad
side to and the steersman is making
desperate efforts to right his craft.
Here comes another one that has
turned completely around and is rush
ing along stern foremost. Let her go,
and into the snow bank it
goes, the occupants are spilled out,
and merry shouts of laughter ring
though the air. Here is where you
get your fun, and here is health, en-
Oyment, exercise, fun, recreation and |
that undefnable feeling that a person
when he travels like the
wind. You feel good ah, this is the
light sort of recreation. Your mind is
easier. Your cares of business have
been shaken off your mind-they
could not keep up with the toboggan.
You are young again, boys and girls.
Glorious toboggan, long may you be
fashionable with the people of this
After slide or two, you care moth
ng for winters cold blasts, fer you
ire now warm with physical exercise,
md scorn Jack Frost. If you have
lot yet taken trip down the slide,
10 not delay. Try it. 1t is safe and
heap and costs only q cents a slide.